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Eye contact is important, but for the ladies there's something else to think about. A couple of times my smile was misinterpreted, so my friends had to "rescue" me as I didn't want to give anyone my phone number! :lol:

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In my mind it should be a like a decent conversation with someone you like. Few stare 100% of the time while talking with someone else. Look for a while, then look away, with more looking than not.

If the concept of staring into a strangers eyes is an issue for you, then look at their forehead or ear, and smile a little. The bigger point is that looking at each other is part of the visual connection. Not the only connection, but certainly something you want to do more than less when starting out.

People that have danced for years get away with all sorts of stuff. Some of their bad habits just become "that's what they do..."

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Salsa is all about eye contact according to me. coz you have to watch every single step of your partner. If you dn't have any eye contact with your dance partner then you were not able to do dance properly or your partner will do some other step and you do some other one.

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My connection seems to be greatest with social dancers who don't try to compete with themselves. I smile and make eye contact most with them. Newcomers don't meet my eyes, they're lost in thought, and then the big ego dancers don't make eye contact. lol It makes the dance better!

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My personal point of view about keeping eye contact is important due to the intimacy between the two dancing partners. When there remains eye contact there will be an easy understanding between the two dancers.Where the audience are able to see that the partners performing has chemistry and has rehearsed well.

Well-Known Member

My personal point of view about keeping eye contact is important due to the intimacy between the two dancing partners. When there remains eye contact there will be an easy understanding between the two dancers.Where the audience are able to see that the partners performing has chemistry and has rehearsed well.

New Member

At first, when I started taking classes about a year ago, it was hard for me. Before Salsa, I really wouldn't dance that close to anyone and definitely didn't look at anyone in the eye. (Afraid of what I might see, I guess.) I know, that's awful. Anyway, it's very important to do that. It breaks the ice, initiates "dance" communication ignited by smile or a wink, etc. So my answer would be 90% of the time unless it's the 10% where I'm doing a flip or something. :wink:

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As a social AT follower there's not much of an advantage to maintaining eye contact with the leader. Unless I want him to crash into other couples as we're travelling round the room. The position of heads in close embrace doesn't really allow for it and I've seen most followers close their eyes anyway - it's pretty intense stuff anyway without staring at someone.

Of course it would be different in show tango where a lot of the selling point is on storytelling and drama.

As for the little salsa I know about - the 'hold' is so much more open and the dance doesn't travel, so there is no need for the lead to keep his 'eyes on the road' as it were. Because there is some distance between the dancers, eye contact should feel quite natural (and allow dancers to take in their surroundings too), and not as 'in your face' as the tango embrace would be.